Yoga Teacher Training for Beginners: How to Decide if It's for You
November 23, 2018
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Have you been thinking about becoming a yoga teacher?
You might have many doubts that keep you wondering if it’s worth signing up for a yoga teacher training. You may be thinking “Am I good enough?”, “Can I sign up even if I don’t have lots of experience?” and “How much time do I have to spend on it?”
Well, no need to worry, they’re all valid questions that can influence your decision to become a yoga teacher. Here, we’ll delve into frequently asked questions and answer them accordingly.
Your practice level
Ideally, you should have some yoga experience before you sign up for a yoga teacher training program. This doesn’t mean that you have to be an expert, but you should be at least comfortable with the basic "asanas". That said, there are shorter programs where you can get your feet wet, like a 50-hour yoga teacher training.
This is because your role as a yoga teacher requires setting a model and an example. If you are unable to do that, you will fail at your role. This doesn’t mean, of course, that you have to be able to do every single pose.
Even if you’re not sure whether you’d like to become a yoga teacher, joining a yoga teacher training will definitely take your level up a notch.
At the same time, it is very important to keep your expectations realistic of what you’ll be able to learn and do over a period of time. Having expectations that are too high and too good to be true can be a bit frustrating, and might even make you reluctant to continue with the practice.
Nevertheless, don’t get overwhelmed by the different terms. It’s normal if there are days when you feel lost and truth be told, every professional yoga teacher out there was once a beginner.
Being a yoga teacher is a journey of self-development that is continuous and lasts beyond than the hundreds of hours that you’ve invested in your training.
Your willingness to learn & intention
It’s important to understand that training to become a yoga teacher involves a deep commitment. If you are unable to devote the required time or energy, it will be a seemingly impossible goal to complete.
You must be willing and ready to give it the time, energy and effort needed to learn the different poses, the related philosophy and the anatomy, and this is by far more important than your level of expertise.
You might not be an expert when you first enroll, but with the right training and with the honest intention to commit, you’ll be able to understand a lot more.
Furthermore, evaluate your intention and understand that your reasons might change over time. What you think you can do might also change in the future. So, the best thing is to make sure that you’re learning for yourself, not thinking too much if you’re willing to teach later or not.
All your props & gear
The most important thing is your willingness to learn and the intention you have behind your yoga teacher training. However, having the proper gear will always help you in the journey to become a yoga instructor.
A pair of yoga pants, a good yoga mat, a bag to protect it, a couple of blocks, and a strap should be enough to get you started.
Your yoga style
Yoga is yoga, but there are many different styles and you should find the one that better suits your preferences.
There’ll be a lot of studios and classes that offer 200-hour yoga teacher training for beginners and the style will differ from one studio to another, and from one trainer to another. As a rule of thumb, starting with a traditional hatha yoga course is generally a good idea. However, you may want to opt for something a bit different that attracts you more.
Check out this infographic if you are interested in finding out which yoga style that would most suit you and your preference.
Understanding the impact and importance of the proper yoga teacher training can change your life completely. Embrace it and get started. You’ll see how positively you are influenced so that you can influence others later.
Inspired to become a yoga teacher? Why not begin your yoga teacher journey where it all started & sign up for a 200-hour yoga teacher training in India?